On behalf of the Darling Downs Regional Alliance (DDRA) and the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC), we would like to invite you to the inaugural Regional Business Forum to be held in Pittsworth on Tuesday 26^th November.

This forum will be delivered on a quarterly basis and rotated amongst the townships in the TRC region.

These forums will bring together our regional businesses, our Chambers of Commerce and Progress and District Associations, and TRC elected representatives and economic development staff.  The intent is to provide a collaborative environment in which to explore opportunities associated with regional economic development and discuss current or emerging issues that may be impeding growth and sustainability.

Agenda items for the inaugural Regional Business Forum include:

• Welcome and launch by Mayor Geoff McDonald and Cr Edwina Farquhar
• Overview of the development of the TRC Economic Development Strategy
• Discussion on current and emerging opportunities
• Discussion on impediments to growth and sustainability
• Key topics also for discussion include:

• Business capability needs assessment – fine tuning or developing what matters most in your business
• Economic Development Grant Program – effective utilisation to achieve genuine local outcomes
• Community Growth Action Plans – updating and ensuring relevance
• Business resilience – dealing with planned and unplanned change and disruption

• Next steps